Transfer mechanism for sugar canes



Julyl 7, 1928;

H, 0. SCRA NTQN TRNSFER MECHANISK FOR SUGAR CANES Filed Oct. 12; 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet July 17, 1928.

H. o. SCRANTON TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR SUGAR CARES Filed Oct. 12. 1926 ,4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,677,601 H. o. SCRANTON v TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR SUGAR CAKES Jul y 17, 1928.

Filed dot. 12. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fl G 3 7 7/ 5/ g m) 72 A9 /J VQ7I 3 0 a 7}" 75 J3 I ea 5'8 g Q J5 I 7 l I K I L I s 4 J9 J6 Jo 64- A as. 55 I 67 July 17, 1928.

H. o. SCRANTON TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR SUGAR CAKES '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct, 12, 1926 Fl l3 4 Patented July 17, 1928. I i I UNITED STATES HENRY O. SGRANTON, OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR SUGAR CANES.

I Application filed ctober12, 1926. Serial No. 141,085.

This invention relates to machines for harvesting sugar canes of the kind shown and described in the application filed by me on August 26, 1926, Serial Number 131,614. In that machine the canes are cut down by cutting mechanism arranged at the front end of thetravelling carriage, and are moved rearwardly while vertical by horizontal conveyers. At the rear part of the carriage two sets of stripping devices are provided, and are arranged one set at each side of the machine These stripping devices strip the leaves and other projections from the canes as they are passed horizontally through them. A transfer conveyer and two elevators are provided for moving the canes from their vertical positions to their horizontal positions, and for elevating them to the level of the stripping devices.

According to the present invention transfer mechanism, as hereinafter fully described and claimed, is provided to take the place of the transfer conveyer and the two elevators. This new transfer mechanism operates continuously, and is provided with jaws which seize the cut canes while vertical, raise them above the level of the stripping devices, and deliver them horizontally onto a curved support or chute. A swinging dis tributor is provided which moves the canes laterally over the curved chute, first to one side and then to the other, so that the canes are delivered onto the horizontal receiving tables of the two stripping devices alternately. The tops of the canes are cut off while passing over the curved chute, and the canes are then thrust into the stripping devices by hand in the usual way. lVhen transfer mechanism constructed according to the present invention is provided the canes are fed onto the tables of the two stripping devices in equal numbers, a much larger number of canes can be handled in a given time, the gripping and releasing 0f the canes is more positive .and satisfactory, and the whole of the transfer operation is effectedwith less complicated machinery.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a transfer mechanism constructed according to this invention,certain.parts being omitted for clearness. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an end view of the swinging distributor, showing portions of the carriage in sectionon the line 33 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail end view of one pair of jaws. Fig. 5 is a face View of one spring-pressed jaw, showing the support-' mg crossbar in section on the line 55 in Fig. 4. Fig. '6 is a plan'view of one of the brackets 31 and parts of the back rest and chain. i

.The transfer mechanism is mounted on themain frame 10 .of the harvesting machine which is mounted on caterpillar traction devices, and is provided with self-propelling mechanism. of approved construction. The cut canes are carried rearwardlv, while vertical, between a pair of horizontal endless travelling conveyers 12, portions only of which are shown as they do not form a part of the present invention. The

stripping devices 1 1 are arranged at the rear part of the main frame, one at each side of the machine, and are arranged at a higherlevel than theconveyers 12, and each stripping device has a horizontal receiving table 15 for the canes. Portions only of the stripping devices are shown, as they are of any approved construction, and do not form a part ofthe present invention.

The transfer mechanism has a front and lower shaft 16 which is journaled in bearings 17 carried by the mainframe l0, and it has a rear and upper shaft 18 journaled in bearings 19 also supported by the main frame 10. A conveyor device is carried by the-shafts 16and 18. Sprocket chain wheels 20 are secured on these shafts 16 and 18, and are provided with a. pair. of endless conveyer chains21, suitably spaced apart. 7 The rear shaft 18 is preferably-the driving shaft, audit is driven by an electric motor 22 and suitable reduction gearr The motor shaft is connected with the driving'shaft 18 by sprocket wheels 2 1 and a drive chain 25.

The shaft 18 may however be driven by any other approved means, and it is preferably driven continuously at a predetermined speed. Upper guide sheaves 26, are pro- 1 vided. in front of the driving shaft 18, so

that the rear parts of theupper stretches of I the conveyer chains .21 are supported in a substantially horizontal position. The guide sheaves 26 are mounted on a shaft 27, and are supported by the main frame 10.

Lower guide sheaves 28 are provided below the driving shaft 18, so as to support the rear parts of the lower stretches of the conveyer chains 21 in a substantially vertical position, and these sheaves are mounted on a shaft 29 supported by the main frame 10. The conveyer chains 21 are of any approved construction and back rests or sup ports 31 are secured to the main frame by brackets 31, and are arranged under the inclined portions of the upper stretches of the conveyer chains to prevent them from s e.

lwo similar devices for gripping the canes are preferably provided, and are shown one at the front end and the other at the rear end of the conveyer chains, and as they are both alike the description will be confined to one of them.

A crossbar 32 is secured between the two conveyer chains 21, and two opposed jaws 33 are'slidable longitudinally on the crossbar 32, which is rectangular in cross-section so that the jaws 33 cannot revolve on it. Each jaw 33 has two arms 34 which are spaced apart, and which project one in front of the other from the ends of its main portion. Each arm 34 has a series of guide chambers 35 formed in it, and 36 are plungers which are slidable in the chambers 35. Springs 37 are arranged in the chambers 35, and project the pl-angers outwardly towards the center line of the machine. The plungers have stems 38 which projectthrough holes in the bottoms of the chambers, and are provided with nuts 39 to prevent the plungers from being pressed forwardly by the springs to an undesirable ex tent. The spring-pressed plungers grip the canes firmly without injuring them.

The two jaws 33 of the pair of opposed jaws are slid towards each other 011 the crossbar 32 by means of springs 40. Each jaw has two springs 40, and each spring is secured to a lug 40 on the jaw to which it pertains at one end, and has its other end secured to a lug or bracket 41 which projects from the crossbar 32. These springs are arranged on the other side of the crossbar 32 from the arms 34, so that they do not obstruct the canes which are gripped between the opposed spring-pressed plungers 36. A roller 42 is mounted on a. pin 43, and is carried by the main portion of each jaw, and is preferably arranged in a pocket 44 between the springs 40. These rollers are adapted to run against two tracks or trackbars 45, portions of which are shown in Fig. 4. These tracks are supported from the main frame 10 by any suitable brackets 46, and they are arranged between the lower stretches of the conveyor chains 21. 1

The tracks 45 are arranged parallel to each other for the greater portion of their length, and their top end portions 47 are curved and are inclined towards each other, as shown in Fig."2. The bottom end portions of the tracks are parallel to each other, and they are curved to conform to the curvature of the .conveyer chains while passing around the front chain wheels. The opposed jaws of each gripping device are held apart by the rollers 42 and tracks 45 while travelling with the lower stretches of the drive chains. When the rollers leave the tracks at their front ends the arms 34 project horizontally, and the and are discharged onto the middle part of a. curved support or chute 50.1 This chute 50 is inclined downwardly on each side from its center portion, and its lower. ends. are arranged to dischargeth-e canes onto the horizontal tables 15 of the respective stripping devices hereinbefore referred to.

A swinging distributor is provided to move the canes laterally over the chute 50, and is timed so as to move one cane or more to the right and the next cane or canes to the left of the machine alternately, as delivered onto the chute by the opposed jaws. The distributor comprises two arms 51 arranged one at the front and the other at the rear of the curved chute 50, and'having hooked tops 52 for engaging the canes,v These armsare secured on a'rock-shaft 53 arranged concentric with the curved chute 50, and mounted in bearings 54 supported from the main frame in any convenient way. Platforms 55 are provided in front of the respective stripping devices for the men to stand on who seize the canes as they are delivered onto the tables 15, and insert them in the cutters of the stripping devices.

The swinging arms 51 are oscillated bya connecting-rod 56 driven by a crank-plate 57 secured on a shaft 58. The shaft 58 is journaled in a suitable bearing 59f supported from the main frame 10, in any convenient way. it counter-shaft 60 is journaled in bearings 61 supported by the main frame, and arranged below the shaft 58. 'The shafts 58 and 60 are operatively conne'cge'd by sprocket wheels 62 and drive chain 63.

The countershaft 60 is revolved by bevel gears 64 secured on it and on a shaft 65 .journaled in a bearing 66 supported by the -ma1n frame.

The shaft 65 is revolved from the shaft 16 at. the front of the transfer of the distributor may however be operated by anyother approved driving mechanism,

and it is desirable that they have their oscillations timed to correspond with the delivery of the canes onto the top of the curved chute, so that the canes may be moved to the right and to the left alternately in equal numbers, as they are discharged by the spring-pressed jaws.

The tops are cut off the canes, as they are slid down the curved chute, 50, by means of circular cutters 7 0 arranged at the lower parts of the chute and beyond its rear end. Each cutter 70 is secured on a shaft 71 jo-urnaled in suitable bearings 72, and driven by an electric motor 73 arranged below it.

The cutter shaft 71 is revolved from the mo tor shaft by belt pulleys 74 and a belt 75, and is driven at any suitable speed so that the tops can be cut off by the cutter blade when the canes are pressed against it by the hooked ends of the distributor arms while sliding the canes down the curved chute.

The motors which drive the cutters 70, and the motor which drives the transfer mechanism, are preferably driven from any approved dynamo carried by the. wheeled frame 10 and used also to energize other electric motors which drive other portions of the harvesting machine. The cutters 7 0 may however be driven in any other approved way, and it is not necessary that they be driven at any particular speed proportional to other parts of the machine, provided they are driven fast enough to cut off the tops completely.

The transfer mechanism is operated continuously as the harvesting machine is moved over the field to cut down the canes, and it tilts over the cut canes and transfers and delivers them to the horizontal receiving tables of the stripping devices, the tops of the canes being cut off while the canes-are being transferred. After passing through the stripping devices the canes are delivered into trailer trucks in the usual way, an empty truck being coupled to the harvesting machine as soon as one truck has received its load and has been uncoupled and removed.

I do not herein claim the specific construction of the conveyer provided with automatic devices for gripping and releasing the canes. as the same is claimed in a divisional application filed by me on JanuaryQl, 1928,

Ser al Number 248,465.

.Vhat- I claim is:

1. In a. transfer mechanism, a conveyer device operating to move the cover longitudinally of the machine, and a rocking distributing device arranged tothe rear of the conveyer device and operatingto slide the canes laterally to the right and to the left of the machine alternately when discharged by the said conveyer device.

2. In a transfer mechanism, a chute for the canes, a conveyer device operating to discharge the canes onto the upper part of the chute, and a rocking distributing device operating to slide the canes down the chute laterally of the machine when discharged by the said conveyer device,

3. In a transfer mechanism, a chute for the canes inclined downwardly towards each side of the machine, a conveyerdevice operating to discharge the canes onto the upper .part of the chute, and a rocking distributing device operating to slide the canes down the chute to the right and to the left alternately when discharged by the said conveyer device.

4. In a transfer mechanism, a curved chute for the canes inclined downwardly towards each side of the machine, a conveyer device operating to discharge, the canes onto the upper part of the chute, and a-rocking distributing device pivoted concentric with the chute and operating to'slide the canes down it to the right and left alternately when discharged by the said conveyer device. v

5. A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim 1, and having also mean for cutting off the tops of the canes while being slid laterally.

6. A transfer mechanism as set forth in claim '1, and having also rotary cutting blades arranged at the rear of the said distributing device and operating to cut off the tops of the canes while they are being slid laterally by the distributing device.

' 7. In a transfer mechanism, a conveyer device for the canes, a rocking distributing device which receives the canes from the conveyerdevice and slides them laterally to the rightand left of it alternately, and in termediate driving devices coupling the distributing device with the conveyer device so that the canes are distributed right and left in substantially equal proportions.

8. In a transfer mechanism, a distributing device comprising a chute inclined downwardly on two sides, a swinging distributor pivoted under the v chute and having two arms which project upwardly of the chute at its front and rear respectively and slide the canes down it to the right and left, and means for oscillating the said distributor.

9. In a transfer mechanism, a distributing, device as set forth in claim 8. the arm at the rear of the chute being provided with hookshaped members at its top, and rotary cutting blades arranged to the rear of the chute and operating to cut the tops off the canes when the canes are pressed against them by the said hook-shaped members.

10. In a transfer mechanism, a distributing device comprising a chute inclined downwardlyon two sides, a rock-shaft journaled under the chute; swinging distributor arms secured on the rock-shaft and projecting upwardly of the chute at its front and rear the right and left, acrank for driving the I distributor 3.1I1'1S,21I1d a connecting-rod arranged between the crank and one of the 10 signature.

and operating to slide the canes down it to HENRY 0. SC RAN ON. 

